Neck-yoke coupling.



L. W. HAMMOND.

NECK YOKE COUPLING.- APPLICATION FILED MAR.14.1914.

1,159,020, Patented NOV.'2, 1915.

WITNESSEX:

A TTORNEYS.

LUTHAN W. HAMMOND, OF VENICE, NEW YORK.

NECK-YOKE COUPLING.

risaoeo.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 14, 1914. Serial No. 824,818.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHAN W. HAM- noxraga citizen of the United States,and a resident of Venice, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York,have invented a certain new and useful Neck-Yoke Couplin of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to harnesses and has for its object a neck yokecoupling whereby the individual jockey neck yokes can be readilydetached from the yoke on the pole and it consists in the combinationsand constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to theaccompanyingdrawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a jockey neck yoke embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is an elevation looking upwardly in Fig. 1, themembers of the coupling being shown as separated to permit thedetachment of the ring which is attached to the yoke on the pole. Figs'3 and 41 are elevations of one of the coupling members, taken at a rightangle to each other.

'1 designates the bar or tree of a neck yoke, as a jockey neck yoke, theopposite ends of which are connected to the backers of the harness inany well known manner.

2 designates the members of the coupling by means of which a ring 3 isattachable to, and detachable from, the jockey neck yoke, this ringbeing the ring carried at each end of the yoke connected to the pole ofthe vehicle.

One of the members 2 is shiftable relativelyto the'other to separateportions thereof to permit the ring to be attached and detached.Preferably the members 2 are duplicates of each other and include hubs 4which are mounted on the intermediatepart of the neck yoke bar or tree4,, and outwardly extending arms having their ends 5 arranged to cometogether-to form a split eye to receive the ring. As here shown, theends 5 are bent toward each other and meet or lap to form the split eyefor receiving the ring the split of the eye being located entirely onthe side of theeye opposed to the yoke bar and extending transverselythrough said side whereby the ring hooked into the eye can be removedfrom the eye upon the opening of the latter Without unhooking movementtoward the yoke bar. One of the members 2 is fixed to the tree 1 and theother-is movable about the tree 1 to separate and bring together thelapping portions 5 and open and close the eye. The lapping portions arecomplemental and made to interfit, as clearly seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

The lapping portions of the arm 5 extend substantially parallel to theaxis'of the hubs 4,'and each lapping portion terminates short of themajor part of the other arm, which major part extends substantiallyradially from the hub. Hence the eye can be opened Patented Nov. 2,1915. l

wide to permit the detachment or attach-' ment of the coupling ring ofthe neck upon a small movement of the movable member 2. Thus thecoupling ring can be radially detached without any manipulation.

The fixed member is secured to the bar or tree 1 in any suitable manneras by nails driven through holes therein, and for economy inmanufacturing, these members are duplicates of each other andinterchangeable, and the holes are'in the form of notches- (3 formedinthe edges of the hub 4. The notches 6 in the shiftable member 2perform no function. 4

The shiftable memberis held from movement in its normal position bysuitable locking means, and as here shown this locking means includes akey in the-form of a strap 7 riveted at one end at 8 to the bar or tree1 and extended through transeverse holes as loops 9 provided on the hubst on the opposite side thereof to that on which the arms 2 are located,the strap being secured at its other end to the bar 1'. by means of abutton 10.

The loops 9 are normally in alinement, but

upon the unfastening of the strap at 10 and the withdrawa of the same tothe right Fig. 1 out of the loops 9, the shiftable member 2 can be movedabout the bar 1 to separate the lapping portions 5 to permit theinsertion or the removal of the ring 3, and after the 'ring has beeninserted the movable part 2 may be againmoved about its axis to closethe split eye and the key replaced in its.

. normal position.

This invention is particularly advantageous in that the coupling members2 are particularly simple in construction, economical in manufacture,easily operated and easily replaced if broken.

What I claim is:

1. A neck yoke comprising a yoke bar and a coupling for attaching a ringto the yoke bar comprising two members, each having a hub mounted on theyoke bar and an arm .laterally extending end portion which projectingfrom the hub, the arms forming a split eye and one of the members beingmovable about the yoke bar to open and close the eye, the split of theeye being located entirely on the side of the eye opposed to the yokebar and extending transversely through the laterally extending endportion of the arm of the other hub, the arms being spaced apart at thehubs and the laterally extending lapping portions of the arms beingopposed to the yoke bar so that said arms with their laterally extendingportions and the yoke bar inclose'an eye located close to the hubs andthe yoke bar and the laterally extending lapping portion of each armterminating short of the major part of the other arm whereby upon theseparation of the arms a short distance, a maximum opening is providedthrough which the ring may pass, and means for locking the members frommovement about the yoke bar and thereby holding the lapping portions ofthe arms in engagement, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A neck yoke comprising a yoke bar, and a coupling for attaching aring to the yoke comprising two members having hubs mounted on the bar,and arms projecting outwardly from the hubs and having their extremitiesarranged to engage each other and form a split eye, one member beingmovable about the bar for separating said arms, the members having loopsprojecting 45 from their hubs and normally arranged in alinement, and akey for passing through the loops for holding the shiftable member inits normal position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo attesting Witnesses, at Venice Center in the county of Cayuga, inthe State of New York, this 27th day of Feb, 1914.

LUTHAN *W. HAMMOND.

Witnesses:

Wanner: BEARDSLY, FRANK MosHER.

